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RAAF Flight Screening Programme

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RAAF Flight Screening Programme

Old 21st Oct 2013, 03:28
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FSP

I heard from a guy the other day that there is some sort of final date where they don't accept any further applications for the ADFA. This kind of makes sense really since the end of the year is coming soon and ADFA starts early next year. Need time to make their decisions etc. Applications made after this date may not be considered.

Very Sneaky,
Do you know anything about this?
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Old 21st Oct 2013, 14:15
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Originally Posted by Winged Wombat
I heard from a guy the other day that there is some sort of final date where they don't accept any further applications for the ADFA. This kind of makes sense really since the end of the year is coming soon and ADFA starts early next year. Need time to make their decisions etc. Applications made after this date may not be considered.

Very Sneaky,
Do you know anything about this?
Not specifically, but I do know that there are university deadlines that need to be met in order to send out offers etc for the following year. I would say that this plays a large role in the cutoff dates for ADFA. Being a part of UNSW, I would imagine it would fall subject to the same regulations. This is standardised for all universities falling under their respective admissions bodies (uac, vtac etc.). There are also a number of administrative issues as you've mentioned.

Having gone through the process myself though, DFR are generally quite efficient in getting candidates who have applied for a particular year on course before these cutoff dates, provided the candidate is organised enough to ensure a spot.
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Old 22nd Oct 2013, 08:07
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WW.

There is a "cutoff" date. This is purely to do with the FSP courses having been filled.
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Old 22nd Oct 2013, 08:46
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For the assessment day, is it required to know specifications (cruise speed, ceiling, type of engine) of aircraft such as the CT4B or PC9/A? Any other tips for assessment day would be appreciated greatly.
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Old 22nd Oct 2013, 23:18
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theuploader3194,

Definitely not for those aircraft, but it wouldn't hurt knowing some specifics for the aircraft you eventually want to fly.
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Old 24th Oct 2013, 03:59
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Thanks for the reply frappe,

One more question. Currently I only have one job preference (pilot). Should I add anymore preferences to show that I would still join the defence force or would this put questions in the minds of recruiters about my motivation to become a pilot? For the record if I don't receive an offer for pilot the likelihood of me pursuing another career in the defence force is quite slim.
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Old 24th Oct 2013, 04:48
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No worries mate.

I was wondering the same thing pre-Assessment Day and in the end I only had Pilot as a preference. If, like you say, the likelihood of you pursuing another career in Defence is slim, then I wouldn't bother putting in any other preferences.

But with that said, do look into other Defence careers in case Pilot doesn't work out, if you haven't already. I'm gunna take an educated guess here and assume you want to fly fast jets in the RAAF, so if you don't get Pilot, you could go for ACO and eventually be aircrew on the Super Hornet, which would definitely be still worthwhile. Or you could go for Pilot in the Navy or Army. There's plenty of opportunities available, give them a think.
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Old 24th Oct 2013, 06:31
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Pilot is one of, if not the, most competitive job in the ADF. Applying just for pilot can show a motivation just to fly, as long as you can back it up by proving you have experience in/passion for aviation. I applied just for pilot, and I had no issues. Don't apply for another job for the sake of it; think to yourself, if I ended up getting my second or third preference, would I be happy having to do it for up to 14.5 years?
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Old 26th Oct 2013, 06:50
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OSB only

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has any information on undertaking OSB only. It is obviously very similar to the one I did last year but any suggestions on things that they may focus on in more detail? I have taken the advice which they recommended last time, began Toastmasters and gliding, finished uni and working full time.

I have changed my preference from RAAF to RAN and ARA because my flight screening score is not above 4, the new cutoff for RAAF. I assume they will focus on that.

I arrive at Tamworth on the 13th November. Anyone on the flight screening beginning around the 3rd of November?

Thanks,
flying_chops
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Old 26th Oct 2013, 20:38
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Very Sneaky -As far as I'm aware you can't be streamed to the pilot role without attending flight screening, so I would assume that this would take place at some point during RMC. As preo mentioned earlier, there may be an opportunity to do so within the first 12 months. If selected for the aviation stream, all GSO candidates go through BFTS at the conclusion of RMC.

I may have some (dated) information to add to this. Prior to the advent of SSOs all Army pilots were required to complete the full course at RMC, or the last year if they attended ADFA.

During the first year we were dragged into a large lecture theatre and 'tested for aptitude'. Aviation and languages are the two I remember specifically. Those that tested as 'gifted' were streamed into Aviation or Intelligence Corps after graduation.
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Old 29th Oct 2013, 00:20
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Hi flying_chops, I will be at FSP on the 3rd of November!

Tim
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Old 29th Oct 2013, 12:13
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flight screening

Is anyone following this thread current or ex serving in the enlisted ranks and applying to the EOI released last week for transfer to PLT? Or is anyone here enlisted and already have a spot at flight screening?
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Old 15th Nov 2013, 21:06
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General advice?

G'day all!

Just had a read through the thread, and boy, are my arms tired!

....okay, that one just doesnt work at all. Im tired, so sue me.

Anyway, I wanted to check out if anyone had advice on a few topics, getting a base visit to Pearce and recommended WACE subjects to take.

I never did year 12, so I am doing a full year WACE course at Tuart College (which I presume will have to be accepted by DFR, given that it is exactly the same curriculum as year 12). I was wondering if anyone can recommend 3A/B over 3C/D, and if so, why? I'd prefer to hear from QFI's or recent students, but seeing as this is after all a public board, I can hardly prevent others from airing their opinions.

Back to the prior topic, does anyone know how difficult/unlikely it is to get a base visit? At least one forumite has responded that it is almost impossible prior to FSP, but my application is in limbo due to med class 4 and the education requirements (childhood asthma... gotta love AVMED).

Y'know what, any advice on the appeals process in general and the policy on asthma medication in specific would be appreciated too. The med staff at DFC in Perth seem to constantly contradict themselves... the nurse I spoke to informed me that having asthma was not the issue, having taken medication was the issue... and that I had to prove that I did not have asthma... all whilst holding my GP's report saying that I do not have asthma. Well, she at least told me to go get a respiratory specialist's report on the matter, which given the previous posts on the topic seems to be a good idea.

Awaiting eagerly for reply.... well, I will be, after I sleep (I started reading the thread at 1am... its now bright outside... sooooo very glad that it's a weekend...)

-Blu3wolf
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Old 17th Nov 2013, 05:51
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Hey Blue,

Just got back from flight screening and I had bad cases of asthma as a child (albeit only a few episodes over a year, generally at the change of seasons) so it's not impossible to pass. You have to do what is known as a Mannitol Challenge Test. Effectively you inhale different dosages of powder to dry out your lungs and breath into the spirometry machine after each subsequent inhalation. If you don't drop below the 15% baseline you pass. Some people are a-symptomatic and go through, others may not, I dropped 8% which was within normal regions. If you haven't had asthma symptoms for years you will most likely be fine. I also swam 3 times a week for the year leading up to expand and exercise my lungs so it's something to think about.

As for base visits, while I was down at HMAS Albatross, I just rang up the squadron and after explaining having come back from FSP etc they were going to let me in with a guide then and there until the XO pulled the plug. You have to apply through recruiting, though I know people having gone through so it's worth enquiring over.
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Old 17th Nov 2013, 06:24
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mannitol challenge?

I never did that, my doc got me to do a standard spirometry... which was just they gave me asthma medication and got me to blow into this machine, the doc said my results were actually better than average...

Still he was just a GP so Im kinda expecting this first appeal to fail... have to say that I hope that DFR is not representative of the ADF as a whole...

The other thing worrying me is this stuff about the PRK/LASEK process. The recruiters basically said that my eyesight wouldn't be an issue. The thread here seems to disagree, and that I would need to get laser surgery. If I do need it, does anyone know how far through the recruiting/testing process I can go before I need to do the surgery?

Also if anyone has any general advice about PRK vs LASEK that would be appreciated, I am getting a referral to see an eye surgeon shortly, but I'm happy to hear from anyone!
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Old 17th Nov 2013, 12:57
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Hi Blu3,

I'm not sure if you've spoken to a doctor from AVMED directly or not, but if you have you can be fairly sure that their advice on medical rulings will be sound. Don't listen to DFR - they don't know much on the matter. Only listen to the doctor.

Essentially, for every cross on your class 4 medical, you'll have to see a specialist to confirm that you're a low medical risk for flight training. I had a suspected migraine when I was 10 and had to see a neurologist to get the thumbs up. In relation to asthma, you'll be hard pressed to get anywhere with an appeal without having done a challenge test administered by a specialist. Your GPs say so won't be enough. The challenge test is similar to a spirometry, and as mentioned before the exception is that you inhale a powder designed to induce an attack. Everybody will have some reaction to this powder, however if it falls outside a certain range you're deemed to have active asthma.

This was the exact process I went through and they seemed to take a fairly hard line on it, but once it was done there were no questions asked and I was given the all clear.

What confuses me about this though, is why have you been given a class 4? I was under the impression that should the medical component of assessment day not go to plan a candidate would be given a class 3R until specialist testing was undertaken to determine the medical risks associated with the relevant condition. You obviously haven't undertaken any specialist testing in regards to your asthma, so why the class 4?

I'm just a layman here, so if I've got out of date info someone please feel free to correct me.
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Old 17th Nov 2013, 14:35
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well, DFR told me I could not talk to AVMED directly. They said I had to write a letter to appeal..

I was made class 4 based on my medical questionnaire, over in perth they dont even do a medical until assessment day. they said that the asthma meant I could not even do the Pilot Aptitude Testing until I got approval from AVMED, and refused to even tell me what I had been made class 4 over until I spoke to a nurse in person.

The nurse was particularly offensive and unhelpful, and tried to imply that I had lied on my medical questionnaire and to nurses, so I am not really thrilled with DFR's conduct up to this point.

still, she told me that I would have to prove that I did not have asthma on my own, and offered no input as to how it could be handled. I went to a GP to ask how I could prove I did not have asthma, this is the first I have heard of a standard asthma challenge test.

I guess I need to talk to AVMED direct, and probably make a complaint about DFR's perth office. still fairly hesitant to go that far, but they seem to be doing their best to discourage anyone from doing anything...
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Old 17th Nov 2013, 18:58
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Good morning,

I was wondering if any of you on the waiting pool have been contacted yet for the November intake? I have not received the call yet, and as you can imagine, I'm feeling quite anxious.

Regards
Sep
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Old 18th Nov 2013, 01:36
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Hey Septerra,

I'd say if you haven't been contacted by now for November then your chances are pretty much nil.

With that being said though, does a 'November intake' mean that you start in November or you get the offer in November? I and a few guys I know start OTS in January and I was contacted back around August, so I don't know what the case is.

You could always call PSA and they can let you know if they've sent your file down to Canberra.
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Old 18th Nov 2013, 03:19
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Blu3wolf- In regards to your LASEK/Eye question, here is some info from the AVMED FAQ-


Q: Can I have refractive surgery to become aircrew?

A: Yes - but-

· Only PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) and LASEK (Laser Epithelial Ketartomileusis - a form of PRK) are approved at this time.

· RK (Radial Keratotomy) is not approved.

· LASIK (Laser In-situ Keratomileusis) is also not approved at this time for aircrew however studies are under way to determine its suitability in the longer term

Last edited by khaki83; 18th Nov 2013 at 09:41.
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